Chapter Nine
Audrey met Merrick’s gaze, surprised he seemed interested in the answer. “One of my older cousins thought it would be funny to lock me in a wardrobe in the back room of the house we lived in at the time. Everyone was there. I forget what we were celebrating. Another birth, a birthday.” She shrugged. “Some family event.”
“No one noticed you missing?”
“He told everyone I’d gone next door to play with my friend. She was a year older than me at six.” She fell silent. The feeling of being trapped and unable to summon help washed over her. She’d been terrified. “He told me I’d starve to death in there because no one would find me. They wouldn’t notice I was gone.”
Merrick gathered her hands in his. “Who missed you?”
She smiled fleetingly. “In those days Jordan was never far fro
